From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
List of development issues and progress on shock absorbers, starting, tyres, bearings, carburettors, and springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0161 | |
| Date | 27th November 1935 | |
| -2- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}18/KW.27.11.35. (9) Throwing up passengers on the rear seats. Generally speaking, we take a more serious view of this than most people. We are pushing along with the development of the Autolock shock absorbers with a view to counteracting the trouble, but there is a considerable amount of work to be done. (10) Starting. Tests in Lucas' Cold Chamber have shown that the SpectreCodename for Phantom III will not start. We shall have to repeat the tests with the Stromberg carburetter, but it appears that the start motor is hardly up to the job. (11) Tyre Noise. Sales put this well up on the list of problems. The one solution which is available is rubber shackles. So far our tests of these indicate that they destroy the directional stability of the car. It will be remembered that this is the most severe criticism of the Cadillac, which is fitted with rubber shackles. BENTLEY. (12) We are having to do intensive development work on bearings. Having tried 2 or 3 types of Hall's metal with steel backed shells, we are now running solid bearings. 6-B-IV 10,000 miles car to prove the big bore unit is waiting for these. BIG BORE 20/25. (13) We have discovered that the carburetter floods on a 1 in 15 gradient. We are having to make special provision to drain the induction pipe in case this occurs. At the same time we are trying to alter the carburetter so that this does not happen. (14) Springing. We are having springs to give the riding comfort of your car fitted to 21-G-IV, but less highly stressed. We are also trying to develop an axle control so that we can use these flexible springs without the brakes becoming dangerous. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||